Paedo finally jailed 33 years after abducting school girl thanks to distinctive tattoo

JUSTICE: Paedo David Green was finally brought to book thanks to his distinctive tattoo

David Green, 60, was jailed for nine years today after eventually being identified by a distinctive "Dave" tattoo on his arm.

Green subjected his 15-year-old victim to an ordeal described as "the stuff of nightmares" after abducting her near Marine Lake in Weston Super Mare on July 17, 1983.

The terrified teenager told how she feared for her life but was too scared to scream.

Cops released an E-fit and painstakingly trawled through the evidence but drew a blank at the time - leading Green to believe he had got away with his sickening crimes.

But advancements in forensic technology prompted detectives to re-open the case.

“Your dark secret will not stay hidden forever...it’s only a matter of time before you get a knock at your door ”

Detective Constable Scott Westbrook-Smith

They matched Green's DNA to fibres taken from the girl's clothing - before arresting the pervert in February this year.

He had the same tattoo inked on his arm as described by the victim in her original statement.

Sentencing at Bristol Crown Court, Judge Martin Picton told Green how the passage of time had done nothing to diminish the impact of his crimes.

And the victim would have to forever endure "the scars of your offending", the judge added.

PH

INKING: David Green's tattoo proved to be a vital clue in solving the cold case

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Scott Westbrook-Smith, was praised for his "hard work and diligence" on the cold case.

He said: “The investigation was reviewed in 2015 and we submitted fibre tapings used to capture evidence on the victim’s clothing at the time for testing using the latest forensic techniques.

“This provided us with a partial DNA profile which was entered onto the National DNA Database and resulted in a match to David John Green.

“Your dark secret will not stay hidden forever...it’s only a matter of time before you get a knock at your door ”

Detective Constable Scott Westbrook-Smith

“Crucially, one aspect of a statement taken from the victim at the time mentioned the offender had a tattoo with the name DAVE on his arm.

"David Green had this exact tattoo which he admitted in interview to having had done around the age of 13.

“The courage shown by the victim has been immense and I’m pleased that after all this time we’ve finally been able to convict the man responsible.

“This sends a powerful message to anyone who’s committed a serious sexual offence which to this date remains unsolved - your dark secret will not stay hidden forever and through the advancements in DNA testing it’s only a matter of time before you get a knock at your door which you hoped would never come.”

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Green admitted kidnap, sexual assault and false imprisonment.

He will also be on the Sex Offenders' Register for at least 10 years.

It is the second cold case to be solved by Avon and Somerset Police this year, after Stephen McCafferty, 62, was banged up for raping a woman in Bristol in July 1981.

He was jailed for four-and-a-half year in February this year.

It comes as the force continues to review around 39 unsolved rape cases and 28 unsolved murder cases.